The temblor, which jolted the Lop county of Hotan prefecture at 6.50 a.m, had its epicentre in the heart of China’s largest desert of Taklimakan. It had a depth of 30 km at 39.4 degrees north latitude and 81.3 degrees east longitude, Xinhua reported.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties till 10.00 a.m., said the regional earthquake bureau.